Khan: Downtown's Laura Street Trio redevelopment deal 'alive but on life support

[pierre]

Love that Khan pulls no punches.

[I-10east]

Props for this post (I do give credit where it is due!), because that was an awesome interview.

Thanks Simms.

[duvaldude08]

Love that Khan pulls no punches.

Thats why I love him. He doesnt talk much, but when he does he tells the blunt truth with a straight face.

[jcjohnpaint]

He is talking dead truth.  All the studies the city paid for.... for the same advice! 

[thelakelander]

Great interview.  I love Khan's comments.  It helps to have someone from outside the area who is also heavily invested here, actually state that we're good at talking with no action.  All of the things being discussed in this town that would enhance our quality of life don't take long to implement. It's time to stop talking and studying and start implementing.

[ronchamblin]

Action?  Instead of talk?  What entities or components are required for one to "act" regarding a project in the core?  I presume we are talking about a significant project that would increase population, business, and vibrancy in the core.

I presume we are acknowledging that there have been far too few significant projects in the core over recent decades -- that we've been somewhat stagnant as far as core development is concerned.

Given a certain situation ... scenario ... or environment, such as in our current low-foot-traffic core, one might attempt to imagine a viable project that could survive within it.  Once one has imagined a project -- a project having a high probability of success, then one might determine how to force the project to completion.

Before action is to be, one must not only perceive the beginning and the end, but one must also perceive the path to the end, perceiving as much as possible all the obstacles on the path.  And then one must determine if all the assets are available to ensure destruction of all the obstacles.

Only by perceiving a viable goal or project, can one proceed to action.  Only by possessing the will and determination can one proceed to action.  Only by achieving confidence as to the probability of success, can one proceed to action.  Only by having sufficient assets, can once proceed to action.

Viable Project?  The very fact that within the core is very low foot-traffic, makes finding a "viable project" difficult.  Every 1,000 people added to the downtown mix, via residents, workers, or visitors, will increase the number of types of businesses that can survive and prosper in the core.  A major cause of a lack of downtown core "investment action" over decades, is its lack of foot traffic.  Once a certain threshold of population has been achieved, we will observe a rush to engage the core because entrepreneurs will perceive a high probability of achieving success.  And people will move into the core as residents because the core will supply the necessities for living.  Opportunity, and the increased probability of survival and profits, drives investment and "action" from potential entrepreneurs.   

So.... what is preventing "action"?  Fear?  Fear of failure ... of losing one's assets?  Where are the brave souls who are willing to force success?  Is everyone lacking in borrowing power?  Is the economy simply too poor, and the core foot traffic too low to allow confidence that "any" viable project can survive in the core? 

I suspect that a primary obstacle to having more "action" is simply that, under the current condition of low foot traffic, there are almost "no viable projects" or businesses that could survive in the core. If there were viable projects, then we would see businesses and investors providing the "action" we talk about.  Investors and business people must perceive a high probability of success and profits "before they force action". 

In order to emerge to a condition of progress toward infill and vibrancy, to escape the current stagnation, there must be some bold and moneyed individuals who are willing to invest in the core to "force" increases in core population.  By "forcing" I mean to say "taking more risk" than is the norm.  Khan apparently has the funds, but to what degree is he willing to affect the situation positively?